Dee Milliner, who started six games last season and 10 as a freshman in 2010, seems to have a solid grip on one starting cornerback position.

The competition is intense at the other cornerback spot, particularly between junior college transfer Deion Belue and junior John Fulton. Travell Dixon, a heralded junior college transfer, appears to have fallen a bit behind.

Roles in the nickel and dime defenses -- when Alabama plays five and six defensive backs, respectively -- remain to be determined.

"With the nickel and dime packages, we've got guys that rotate in," Milliner said. "You've got a lot of guys. We've got no depth chart. They just put guys in, and in any situation, he might call some guy out and tell somebody else to get in. He's just got a bunch of guys that coach is looking at right now. You're never sure who they will be until the season comes."